Fishing rod structure



May 33- H. F. GEPHART FISHING ROD STRUCTURE Filed July 15, 1952 r q E QM E. Q W hm Am .w E w\L hi km E T Uaa/ Patented May 16, 1933 HARRY F. GEPHART, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FISHING ROD STRUCTURE Application m July 15,

My invention pertains to fishing-rods and relates more particularly or especially to improved and novel means for demountably securing the line-reel on the handle and for locking the rod in the handle, so that it cannot he accidentally withdrawn therefrom and so that it cannot turn about its own axis, thus assuring continued maintenance of proper alignment of the line-guides with the reel.

A prime or leading object of the invention is to provide a locking or securing means of the type or character specified, which is simple in structure, which is easily operated, which performs its functions effectively and efiiciently, which is unlikely to become deranged or damaged in ordinary service, and which can be manufactured at comparatively small cost.

To the attainment of these and other desirable aims and purposes, I have provided the present, preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thls specification and to which reference should be had in connection with the following description of the construction and mode of operation of the appliance.

For simplicity and ease in reading the drawing, like reference numerals have been employed to designate the same structural parts throughout the several views.

In this drawing Figure 1 is an elevation of the fishing-rod structure Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal section through the handle-portion of the appliance;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the looking means; and

Figure 4 is a section on line 4.-4 of Fig ure 2.

Referring to the drawing, it will be noted that the handle as a whole is much of the usual or customary form and style, having a cork-grip 11, a metal drop-center part 12 equipped with a depending finger-piece 13 and a front, tubular socket 141, the bore 15 of which is in alignment with the axis of the grip 11.

Just ahead of the part 11, the metal portion 1932. Serial No. 622,668.

of the handle has a transverse channel or cross recess 16 adapted and designed to receive and retain the rear end of the base 17 of a reel 18, the two end sections of such base bearing on the top face of the part 12 which may be provided with a depressed surface for this purpose, the upstanding flanges or marginal ribs 19, 19 along such surface assuring that the reel-base which is accommodated between them will be maintained against sidewise displacement.

The forward end of the reel-base 17 may be securely clamped down in position on the handle by a flat nut 21 overlying it, such nut being mounted on a screw 22 extended down through a hole 23 in the handle, its lower end being provided with a knurled head 24 by means of which it may be easily turned to adjust or tighten or loosen the nut.

Such nut is prevented from turning by 7 reason of the fact that the front part of it is accommodated in a recess or cavity 20 of the handle, which arrangement and assembly of parts permits or allows the nut to travel toward and from the reel-base but precludes 7 orprevents its turning, in this way effecting its travel along the screw.

Thus, when the screw is manually rotated or turned in one direction, the binding nut will be positively drawn down into a position where it firmly and securely clamps or grips the reel-base and holds it positively in the desired relation or position between itself and the underlying part of the handle.

Turning of the screw in the opposite direction obviously causes the nut to release the reel by retreating from that portion of the handle against which the base was formerly held, thus readily'allowing detachment or demounting of the reel and its base from the handle.

The tapered metal rod 25 has its terminal portion 26 received in the socket 15, as shown, but such end is made long enough to extend over the screw 22 and it has an unthreaded hole 27 therethrough for the reception of a part of the screw.

Accordingly, when the screw is in reel-base holding or clamping position, its end is in the aperture of the rod, thus debarring the rod from leaving the .ocket and at the same time preventing it from turning in the socket, hence making certain that the line-guides or eyelets 28, 28 will be in proper and correct relation to the reel to allow winding up or unreeling of the line thereon or therefrom, as the case may be.

It will be understood that when the screw is clamping or binding the reel-base in place, the head of the screw is held firmly against the lower side of the handle, but when the screw is turned to unclamp the base, the screw may descend suificiently to free it from the rod aperture, thus at the same time releasing the rod and permitting its lengthwise withdrawal from the socket.

I-Ieretofore, it has been common to depend solely on friction for holding the rod in the socket, and, occasionally, when casting, the rod became accidentally freed from the handle by unintentional discharge from the socket.

lVheu friction is relied upon solely to keep the rod in the socket, a snug fit must be provided, with the result that it is sometimes ditficult to withdraw the rod from the socket with reasonable ease and facility.

IVhile it is desirable in the new construction to supply a neat fit of the rod in the socket, owing to the structure and mode of functioning of the locking means employed, the rod need not fit as tight as was heretofore usual, with the result that the rod, when unlocked, can be comparatively easily withdrawn.

By employing a hole extended all the way through the rod rather than using merely a recess in the bottom face of the rod, the op erator can readily determine by sight when such hole is in proper register with the screw, thus aiding in the correct assembly of the parts.

Those acquainted with this art will readily understand that the invention is not necessarily limited or restricted to the precise structural features illustrated and described, and that these may be modified within reason able limits Without departure from the heart and essence of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fishing-rod structure, the combination of a socketed handle, means to lock a reel-base on said handle, a rod, and means to lock said rod in the socket of said handle against removal therefrom, said two locking means having at least a portion of each in common.

2. In a fishing-rod structure, the combination of a socketed handle, means to lock a reel-base on said handle, a rod adapted to occupy the socket of said handle, and means to lock said rod against turning in said socket, said two locking means having at least a portion of each in common.

moaaae 3. In a fishing-rod structure, the combination of a socketed handle, means to lock a reel-base on said handle, a rod adapted to demountably occupy the socket of said handle, and means to lock said rod against withdrawal from and against turning in said socket. said two locking means having at least a portion of each incommon.

4. In a fishing-rod structure, the combination of a socketed handle, a nut to clamp a reel-base on said handle, arecessed rod adapted to fit in said socket, and a screw on which said nut fits and by which the nut is clamped on and unclamped from said reel-base, said screw being adapted to fit in said rod recess when the nutclamps the reelhase.

5. In a fishing-rod structure, the combination of an apertured socketed handle, a nut to clamp a reel-base on said handle, means to prevent said nutfrom turning, a recessed rod adapted to fit in said socket, and a head ed screw occupying said handle aperture and on which said nut fits, said screw being adapted to fit in said rod recess when the nut clamps the reel-base and to lock said rod against turning and against withdrawal from said socket.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY F. GEPHART. 

